Page 87 of Forever and Ever

“Sorry, guys, it will be a little bit,” Eloise says.

Rome opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off before he can get any stupid shit out that might send her spiraling again. “Take your time. We’ll keep busy. Pool?” I look at Adrian and he nods.

Walking over to Rome, I tip my head toward the other room, not giving him an option.

“Fine,” he grumbles, and the three of us head into Adrian’s den, where there’s a large pool table in the center.

Rome pours himself a shot of whiskey from the bar in the corner while Adrian racks the balls.

“How long is this next tour again?” Rome asks, downing his shot. “I’m so fucking tired of this lame-ass city.”

“Seven months. November to June,” Adrian says. “We’ll start stateside, have a short break, and then move overseas. It’s a long one.”

“Good.” Rome lifts his glass in a cheer to no one and then downs a second shot.

Seven months. Why does that bother me so much all of a sudden?

I’ve always loved being on the road—couldn’t get enough. Everything that once felt like it grounded me suddenly has me in suspension.

“You’re breaking.” Adrian nods at me, and I pick up a pool cue, lining it up. It’s a good break, with one ball going in the corner pocket. I make two more shots before missing, and Adrian’s up.

“How’s El been?” I ask Adrian.

She’s staying with him, and if the look on his face said anything earlier, he’s as worried about her as the rest of us.

“Okay most days,” Adrian says with a shrug, before leaning in to take another shot. “But this past week she’s been keeping to herself a lot. I don’t see much of her.”

“But she’s living here?”

If Merry staying at my house made anything clear, it’s that you can only avoid a person so much when they are living under your roof. Not that I’m trying to avoid her at all anymore.

“I’ve been at Becca’s apartment a lot, so besides recording time, I haven’t seen much of her.”

Adrian stands with the pool cue in front of him feigning nonchalance about the mention of his mysterious girlfriend. He’s trying to seem indifferent like he always does. God forbid he shows his feelings.

Especiallywhen it comes to Eloise.

Whatever happened or didn’t happen between the two of them when he first started managing the band has been kept under lock and key. I don’t think they fucked, because if they did, they’d probably be a little less uptight around each other, but whatever it was, they both insist it was nothing.

So, either shit went sour and they pretend they’re fine for the rest of the band’s sake, or they really don’t give a shit—which I don’t believe.

“When do we get to meet Becca?” Rome asks with a grin that makes Adrian groan.

“Not anytime soon.”

“Sounds pretty serious if you’re spending so much time at her place,” I say.

Adrian doesn’t usually date. He might fuck the occasional groupie, but other than that, he doesn’t pay much attention to the women around him. His thing with Becca is the longest he’s dated someone in a while, so he must at least like her.

“She’s nice,” Adrian says, like the wall he is, giving absolutely nothing away.

“Nice?” I raise an eyebrow.

Adrian shrugs.

“I bet she’s hot,” Rome says, pouring himself another drink. Hopefully Sebastian and Eloise finish up before he’s too wasted to hold his guitar. “Why else wouldn’t Adrian bring his chick around?”

“Maybe because he thinks you’ll be a dick if he does.”

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